<\/p>\n
Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi on Monday withdrew his resolution seeking a ban on all social media platforms after protest and near unanimous disapproval of his initiative.<\/p>\n
The senator\u2019s resolution<\/a> to have Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube banned in Pakistan to protect the young generation from their \u201cnegative and devastating effects\u201d was on the agenda of the House today.<\/p>\n The resolution was supposed to be moved by Senator Tangi, who was expelled<\/a> by the PPP last month for remaining silent<\/a> in a Senate session the month before when Independent Senator Dilawar Khan had moved a separate resolution seeking postponement of general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.<\/p>\n Subsequently, PPP cancelled his membership but neither filed a reference against him nor asked him to resign. The Senate secretariat\u2019s record<\/a> shows Tangi, who is set to retire on March 11, is still a PPP senator.<\/p>\n The resolution pushing for a blanket ban on major social websites came at a time when the country is already facing disruption<\/a> to the service of X in the face of severe backlash against the judiciary and establishment following the general elections on Feb 8.<\/p>\n At the start of the 335th Senate session today, a protest \u2014 of which Tangi was a part \u2014 was staged against the raid<\/a> on Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman and presidential candidate<\/a> Mehmood Khan Achakzai\u2019s residence.<\/p>\n When Senator Tangi began to speak, another protest was staged over his social media resolution that was on the agenda.<\/p>\n After speaking for approximately a minute, he said he wanted to introduce a law based on his own thoughts and vision.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is possible that there is something good in my mind. One of my resolutions is listed on the agenda today. According to my thinking, maybe it\u2019s good. But it can be argued upon.<\/p>\n \u201cI am talking about my resolution. I submitted it after consulting my colleagues and friends,\u201d he contended as he attempted to speak amid the protest.<\/p>\n Here, the Senate Deputy Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi stopped Senator Tangi from continuing his speech. At this, Senator Tangi offered to complete his speech within a minute.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you succumb to the pressure of people?\u201d he asked the deputy chairman. \u201cPlease give me a chance to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n Later, when he was given a chance to speak, Senator Tangi again reminded the House that every member has the right to present legislation, motion, or resolution.<\/p>\n \u201cBut then with the consensus and advice that if some friends do not agree with it, and if I feel that the majority of the members and general masses also do not agree with it, the senator (himself) has the right to withdraw his resolution and hence I withdraw it,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n The resolution claimed that the aforementioned digital platforms were being used for the promotion of norms \u201cagainst our religion and culture\u201d and \u201ccreating hatred amongst the people on the grounds of language and religion\u201d.<\/p>\n It noted that the use of such platforms to run \u201cnegative and malicious propaganda\u201d against the armed forces was against the interests of the country.<\/p>\n \u201cSuch platforms were being used by vested interests for spreading fake news about various issues and trying to create and promote fake leadership in the country to hoodwink the young generation,\u201d the resolution said.<\/p>\nResolution<\/h2>\n
Senate passes six bills<\/h2>\n